This document provides recommendations and best practices for effective class planning based on typical complaints from business English students. It begins by listing common complaints such as lack of organization, not addressing weaknesses, and connectivity issues. It then identifies which complaints are most typical, including disorganization, not balancing grammar with other skills, and wanting more speaking practice. The document recommends preparing classes in advance, varying activities, and using techniques like videos and games. It also suggests keeping an organized structure with warm-up, main activity and cool-down sections. Finally, it outlines the most effective teaching techniques and attitudes for teachers.

1. Language Solutions España | Calle General Díaz Porlier 90 (28006) Madrid | www.langsols.es | campus@langsols.es | 915 314 960
EFFECTIVE CLASS PLANNING
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS
AND THEIR TYPICAL COMPLAINTS
Training Workshop for Business English
Teachers

2. Real complaints from
other years

3. • Desorganización de la clase, es todo improvisación, nada organizado.
• No se preocupa por nuestras carencias y trata de corregirlas
• El material que el trae consigo no permite conectar a la televisión para poder ver la Tablet
en la TV.
• Problemas de internet pese a que le facilitan la password del wifi y al final usamos el
ordenador portátil de un alumno, aunque tenemos problemas de audio.
• Facilitaremos un flip chart en la sala porque hay veces que los alumnos necesitan ver
ejemplos por escrito.
• En general estamos contentos con la profe aunque nos gustaría ver la posibilidad de
mejorar aspectos como:
• Logística: que traiga las fotocopias preparadas y el ordenador con audio que se oiga bien
(para no perder tiempo).
• Mantener su foco en gramática pero intercalar con más listening y que fomente
conversaciones entre nosotros… escuchar y hablar más!
• La última parte de la clase algo más light/lúdico
• Que traiga algunos audios/lecturas/estructuras de Business Inglés
• Equilibrar más la parte de gramática con los contenidos más lúdicos (combinar todo un
poco más, es decir ni todo un día entero de gramática ni otro día entero viendo una peli)
• Sigue método, revisando gramática y libro, aunque también echamos en falta un poquito
de variedad de vez en cuando (un video, un artículo de un periódico, una presentación…).
• Que el profesor hablara más y también les obligara a hablar más entre ellos.

4. Which of them are
typical?

5. 1. Disorganization in class, it’s all improvisation. Totally unorganized.
2. S/He doesn’t worry about our weaknesses and doesn’t try to correct them.
3. The material s/he brings with her/him can’t connect to the TV and show the tablet screen on it.
4. Problems with the internet connection, although s/he was given the Wi-Fi password and in the end we use a student’s laptop, but it has
audio problems.
5. We’ll bring in a flip chart because sometimes students need to see written
examples.
6. We are happy with the teacher in general, but we’d like her to improve some points such as logistics, bring the
photocopies ready and laptop with well-listening audio so as not to waste time.
7. Keeping the focus on grammar but alternate with more listening exercises and s/he should try to elicit
more conversation from us, we want to listen and speak more!
8. We’d like the last part of the class to be lighter and playful.
9. He should bring some audio, reading exercises, and Business English structures.
10. He should balance the grammar part with more playful contents (by combining all a bit more, I mean, not all day grammar or all day a
film)
11. S/He uses a method, teaches grammar and uses the book, although we miss a bit of variation now and then (a
video, an newspaper article, a presentation, etc.)
12. We want the teacher to speak more and make the students speak to each other too.

6. LangSols recommendations
1. Prepare your class in advance, take your time (class preparation takes about 1 hour).
2. Do ‘pair work’ and ‘group work’.
3. Vary the activities in every class, use ‘teaching techniques’.
4. Include videos, audios, pictures, games.
5. Use cut-ups and flashcards.
6. Use a pad to make notes of their mistakes, Correct them, and show new
vocabulary.
7. Be solution-oriented. The lack of resources can’t be an excuse for a bad
class.

7. Reviewing: match the recommendations to the typical
complaints

8. Effective class planning

9. The DIAMOND Structure
Cool-down
Work-out
Warm-up
Light activity: discussion, link backwards, game
10 min.
The lesson itself: grammar&vocab,
reading, listening, speaking, writing.
Light activity: discussion, review of all seen, link forward, game
10 min.

10. Material Selection

11. Most Effective Teaching
Techniques

12. Most Effective Teaching Techniques
• Pair and group work (partner change)
• Debates
• Contests
• Use of flashcards, videos, songs
• Dictogloss / listen-note making-discussion
• Taboo
• 30/20/10
• Turn over and Pass around
• Error correction*

13. Most effective teacher’s
attitude in class

15. • Calm and Understanding (empathic)
• Assertive and outgoing
• Smiling (good mood)
• Story teller
but also…
• Tough and Demanding
• Sets rules (classroom management)
• Economical with words
• Professional and polite

16. Gracias